Who are the persons of the Trinity?

There is only one God.  God is in three persons.  These three persons are the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  All three are fully and completely God.  All three are eternal, not created, nor made.  The three are distinct and separate, yet they are all share of the same divine essence. The word Trinity may not be in the Bible, but the teaching of the Trinity is.  The Trinity can be found in Gen 1:1-2, 26, John 1:3, Matthew 3:16-17, John 14:16, 26; John 15:26,  Matthew 28:19, and 2 Cor. 13:14. 

To the Father the work of creation is attributed, although all three worked in creation.  Malachi 2:10 says, “Have we not all one Father? Did not one God create us?”

To the Son, Jesus, the work of redemption, or salvation, is attributed, although all three work in salvation. 

The Holy Spirit is attributed with the work of sanctification, our being made holy. 

The Apostles’ Creed

The Apostles’ Creed was written to express who God is, the three persons of the Trinity and their work. 

Martin Luther took this creed and broke it into three articles, writing an explanation of each article.  The following is the way Martin Luther instructed the creed to be taught in the home to children in Luther’s Small Catechism:

The First Article: On Creation

I believe in God the Almighty Father, Creator of Heaven and Earth.

What does this mean? I believe that God created me, along with all creatures. He gave to me: body and soul, eyes, ears and all the other parts of my body, my mind and all my senses and preserves them as well.  He gives me clothing and shoes, food and drink, house and land, wife and children, fields, animals and all I own. Every day He abundantly provides everything I need to nourish this body and life. He protects me against all danger, shields and defends me from all evil. He does all this because of His pure, fatherly and divine goodness and His mercy, not because I've earned it or deserved it. For all of this, I must thank Him, praise Him, serve Him and obey Him. Yes, this is true!

The Second Article: On Redemption

And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried, descended to Hell, on the third day rose again from the dead, ascended to Heaven and sat down at the right hand of God the Almighty Father. From there He will come to judge the living and the dead.

What does this mean? I believe that Jesus Christ is truly God, born of the Father in eternity and also truly man, born of the Virgin Mary. He is my Lord! He redeemed me, a lost and condemned person, bought and won me from all sins, death and the authority of the Devil. It did not cost Him gold or silver, but His holy, precious blood, His innocent body -- His death! Because of this, I am His very own, will live under Him in His kingdom and serve Him righteously, innocently and blessedly forever, just as He is risen from death, lives and reigns forever. Yes, this is true.

The Third Article: On Becoming Holy

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the community of the saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and an everlasting life. Amen.

What does this mean? I believe that I cannot come to my Lord Jesus Christ by my own intelligence or power. But the Holy Spirit call me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, made me holy and kept me in the true faith, just as He calls, gathers together, enlightens and makes holy the whole Church on earth and keeps it with Jesus in the one, true faith. In this Church, He generously forgives each day every sin committed by me and by every believer. On the last day, He will raise me and all the dead from the grave. He will give eternal life to me and to all who believe in Christ. Yes, this is true!